Careers in Government Contracting

1
Careers in Government Contracting

• Angela Whitehorn
• Project Control Director, Intuition Research
• 11 March 2009

2
Agenda

• Know the Landscape
• Where are the contractor jobs?
• Who does a contractor work for?
• What does a contractor do?
• Choose Your Path
• Direct Customer Support
• Program Management
• Contract Management
• Corporate Accounting and Finance
• Program Control
• Market Yourself
• On Your Resume
• In the Interview
• On the Job

3
Know the Landscape
4
Know the LandscapeWhere are the contractor jobs?

• Marshall Space Flight Center
• Nearly every major US aerospace corporation is
  represented in Huntsville!
• gt 90 Companies
• gt 11,000 Jobs
• Redstone Arsenal
• Huntsville manages large investments for the US
  Army!
• Majority of the Armys weapons procurement budget
• More than half of the Armys foreign military
  sales
• gt 300 Companies
• gt 32,000 Jobs
• Cummings Research Park / Thornton Research Park
• Huntsville is home to the USs second largest
  research and technology park!
• gt 225 Companies
• gt 23,000 Jobs

5
Know the LandscapeWho does a contractor work
for?

• National Aeronautics and Space Administration
  (NASA)
• Department of Defense (DOD)
• Armed Services
• Missile Defense Agency (MDA)
• US Army Space and Missile Defense Command
  (USASMDC)
• US Army Research, Development, and Engineering
  Command (ARDEC)
• Other Government Offices
• Department of Energy (DOE)
• Department of Justice (DOJ)
• Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
• State and Local Government Offices

6
Know the LandscapeWhat does a contractor do?

• Engineering Services
• Design
• Integration
• Testing
• Assessment and Advisory Services
• Information Technology Development
• Process Automation and Tool Development
• Technology Center Management
• Project Management
• Cost
• Schedule
• Performance

7
Choose Your Path
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Choose Your PathDirect Customer Support

• Common Job Titles
• Program Analyst, Program Systems Analyst,
  Business Analyst
• Many diverse and company-specific titles read
  job descriptions carefully!
• Core Job Responsibilities
• Support Customer Needs on a Daily Basis (Often at
  Customer Site)
• Administrative
• Contract/Procurement Management
• Financial/Budget Management
• Business Process Automation
• Typically Reports to a Program or Project Manager
• Advantages
• Direct interaction and visibility with customer.
• Typically offers more flexibility than some
  corporate jobs.
• Excellent growth opportunities into Program
  Management.

9
Choose Your PathProgram Management

• Common Job Titles
• Project Manager, Program Manager, Project Lead,
  Team Lead
• Core Job Responsibilities
• Manages Complete Project Execution on Behalf of
  Customer
• Cost
• Schedule
• Performance
• Performs Direct Customer Support Activities
  Within the Project
• Supervises Project Employees
• Advantages
• Direct interaction and visibility with customer.
• Skilled PMs are in high demand and command
  excellent salaries.
• Excellent growth opportunities into Executive
  Management.

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Choose Your PathContract Management

• Common Job Titles
• Contract Administrator, Contract Specialist
• Subcontract Administrator, Subcontract Specialist
• Core Job Responsibilities
• Manage the Contract Life Cycle
• Support or Conduct Corporate Contract
  Negotiations
• Manage Changes to Ongoing Contracts
• Conduct Closeouts of Completed Contracts
• Advise Operational Stakeholders
• Interpretation of Contract Language
• Courses of Action for Satisfaction of Contract
  Requirements
• Typically Reports to the Director of Contracts or
  an intermediate Contracts Manager
• Advantages
• Typically offers reliable workload at a steady
  pace.
• Excellent for those who like reading and
  organization.

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Choose Your PathCorporate Accounting and Finance

• Common Job Titles
• Accountant, Financial Analyst
• Function-specific Titles
• Core Job Responsibilities
• Manage the Functions of the Corporate Accounting
  System
• General Ledger Accounting
• Accounts Receivable
• Accounts Payable
• Payroll
• Purchasing
• Typically reports to Controller or Accounting
  Manager
• Advantages
• Typically offers reliable workload at a steady
  pace.
• Excellent for those who like numbers but prefer
  to stay behind the scenes.
• Great experience for those who would like to own
  a business.

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Choose Your PathProgram Control

• Common Job Titles
• Program or Project Analyst, Program or Project
  Controller
• Business Analyst, Budget Analyst, Financial
  Analyst
• Core Job Responsibilities
• Provide Interface Between Business Management and
  Operations Management
• Control Financial Processes on the Project
• Manage Internal and External Project Financial
  Reporting
• Typically reports to a Program Manager or Program
  Control Manager
• Advantages
• Daily variety of work tasks.
• Emerging discipline means flexibility and
  opportunity.
• Excellent growth opportunities into Program
  Management.

13
Market Yourself
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Market Yourself!On Your Resume

• Be Creative
• In the design and look of the resume
• In the wording of your work history and
  accomplishments
• Sweat the Small Stuff
• Formatting
• Spelling
• Grammar
• Employment Application
• Specialize
• Create several resumes to target different career
  paths
• Tailor resumes as needed to specific jobs

15
Market Yourself!In the Interview

• Be Prepared
• Research Company History
• Know the Job Description
• Bring Your Portfolio
• Sweat the Small Stuff
• Dress Appropriately
• Arrive on Time
• Know the Name(s) of Your Interviewer(s)
• Take Notes
• Collect Business Cards
• Write Thank-You Notes
• Be Yourself
• Relax
• Ask Questions
• Have Fun!

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Market Yourself!On the Job

• Have a Plan
• Where do I want to be in five years?
• How is my current job helping me get there?
• What else needs to be on my resume to get me
  there?
• Gather Information
• Observe those in the job you hope to earn.
• Learn from co-workers in your discipline and
  others.
• Find a mentor in your field.
• Build your network.
• Act the Part
• Be ready to pay your dues.
• Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.
• Treat others with professionalism and respect.
• Constantly strive to improve yourself.

17
Questions